Container cap construction



Nov. 13, 1934. 5l E, DlETzE 1,980,853

CONTAINER CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14 1953 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 1,980,853 CONTAINER cAP CONSTRUCTION George E. nietze, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application June 14, 1933, Serial No. 675,735

Claims.

My invention relates to 'a cap construction for containers, such as those commonly known as collapsible tubes, and more particularly to such a container cap construction which normally is 5 not detached from the container and which is adapted to be locked on the container either in container-closing or container-opening position.

Containers such as tubes for holding tooth,- pastes, creams, and various other toilet prepara- 0 tions are commonly provided with caps which merely screw on and oft The defects and disadvantages of such caps are too well known to re quire particular discussion. Some attempts have been made tov provide caps which are inseparable under conditions of usage from the container but such have proved to be either too expensive or too unsatisfactory or complicated with the result that the industry has gone backto the ordinary p screw cap type with minor variations in size, material and conguration. The fact that the art has reverted in general to the ordinary screw cap indicates clearly that the proposed non-detachable caps were unsatisfactory for general usage, but it is well known that the art has long desired a simple, inexpensive and fool-proof nondetachable cap which will overcome the defects and disadvantages hitherto accepted of necessity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container cap having the above indicated advantages without' the concomitant disadvantages of complexity, undue expense or inconvenience.

Another object of my invention is to provide so-calledcollapsible tubes with a new and superior cap construction which is adapted to be locked in either tube-closing or tube-opening position and which can not become separated from the container accidentally.

Another object of my invention is the provi? sion of a container cap for collapsible tubes which cannot be inadvertently or accidentally opened by contact with various objects as when one or more of the tubes are packed away for traveling purposes. l

' A still further object vof my invention resides in providing a cap for collapsible tubes and the like which is swingable from tube-.closing to tubeopening position and vice versa without danger of the cap becoming detached from the tube and while constantly subjecting the cap to a 'force urging it always toward the container.

A still further object of my invention comprises a container cap which so cooperates with the underlying container portion that it can be locked in either open or closed position by a simple move- (Cl. B21- 60) ment requiring no appreciable amount of force.

Other and further objects and advantages reside in the specific details of construction to be hereinafter pointed out where they are not apparent.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates a vertical elevation of a collapsible container provided with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the presentinvention at right r angles to Fig. 1, but on a larger scale and showing only a fragmentary portion of the associated container; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of Fig. 2 with the container cap in open position, the closed position of the cap being indicated by the dotted line construction;

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on the line IVa-IVa of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevational view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view at right angles to Fig. 6 and bearing the same relationship thereto as Fig. 2 bears to Fig. 1.

Similar numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawing.

The numeral 10 indicates .a collapsible container or tube of any preferred or desired type. 'I'his container per se is so well known that it requires no particular description. In general it consists of some relatively bendable metal which can be readily collapsed to discharge the desired amount of the contents thereof and is ordinarily collapsed from the bottom upward, the materialof the container being rolled as the material is displaced from. the tube. Instead, however, of providing such a tube withthe ordinary screw-threaded base for the reception of a threaded cap, I provide an entirely different construction as will now be pointed out in detail.

My invention comprises in general a lower portion 11 which is suitably associated with the conical vupper end of the container and a cap portion proper 12 adapted to close the lower portion or tobe moved to a position which opens the lower portion for displacement of material from the container. tion in which the cap closes the container, as in Figs. 1 and 2, as the closed or closing position, and the position in which the container is open for displacement of material, as in Figs. 4 and 5, as the open or opening position. 'The two portions, that is, lower portion 11 and cap portion Hereinafter I will refer to the posirubber; bakelite, lead, aluminum, steel, iron, or

which will become apparent hereinafter.

lunderstood from Fig.

proper 12 are preferably made of vcastings of any suitable metal or other material which is available -for the present purposes, forexample, hard any combination thereof.

It will be observed that the lower portion 11 is provided with a. more or less straight or slightly taperedcollar portion 13 adjacent to and connecting with the interior of the. container. The portion 11 has a central aperture 14 giving communication'to the interior of the container and the collar portion 13 is provided with diametrically'opposite recesses 15 of the approximate 'shape and coniiguration clearly shown -in Figs. 1 and 2. .These recees are preferably disposed at'a slightly acute angle to the horizontal and vare arcuate as is apparent. The recesses, of

course, do not extend entirely through 'the thickness of the collar portion as will be apparentfrom Figs. 1 and 6, wherein the numeral 16 indicates the metal at the bottom of the recess.

It will be noted further that these recesses are provided with sharp shoulders 17 the purpose of Said collar portion is also provided'with suitable'lugs or hooks 18 diametrically oppositely disposed. Above said collar portion is the upwardly 'aring portion 19 which mayfterminatein an annular portion 20. The portion 20 is provided onits upper surface with diametrically opposite cutaway portions or cutouts 21 as will be clearly 5 and these cutouts are extended for a distance into the portion 20 but below the surface thereofon'eithei side of the shoulder or ridge are ing the cutouts 29 indicates metal.

portion 11.

(not shown) may be disposed in the cap in known` cutouts 21 thereby forming short 'arcuatechannels at those points. Above the annular portion 20 the lower portion llterminates ina discharge ori'ce 22 which may be ofthe shape shown or other suitable shape andfrom which the material contained in the tube is expelled.

` The cap portion proper designated by -the numeral 12 is provided with a central cylindrical pbrtion23 on which are diametrically oppositely' provided the projections 24, the under edges of which are curved cam-like. At the lower end of the cylindrical portion or ridge 25 which is of rectangular cross section, and diametrically oppositely extending from said the hooks or lugs 26. Above the cylindricalv portion of the cap and this m'lled.head is provided with diametrieally opposite arcuate extensions 28 as shown. These extensions are in general convex on their peripheries and concavo-convex when viewed horizontally as is clearly apparent from Figs. 1, 2 'and 3, but the upper surfaces of the extensions are provided with reverse arcuate cutouts 29 which extend for only a portion of the thicknessof the extensions as is clearly` indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the bottom surface bound- The milled head portion is also provided with diametrically opposite hooks or lugs 30 similar to those numbered 18 described in connection with the lower A suitable cork or other sealing disk manner.

As is apparent from Figs. spring members 3l are disposed between the lugs 18 and the lugs 30 of such a size and strength as to exert a. suitable constant force on thecap urging it toward the lower portion and this is true whetherthe cap is in open or in closed position. Such springs may' be made ofbrass, stainless steel, or other suitable metal or alloy.

in open position. The

arrangement are such that only slight forces be exerted upon the cap either to open 0r to close.

12 is the annular shoulder 23 is the milled head 27 1 to incllLSive,

It is, therefore, apparent that thecap portion 12 may b e swung to and from open and closed position and in either position is relatively rigidly e maintained in relation to the lower-portionfll. For example, when the cap is closed as inFigs. 1 and 2 the'annular shoulder or ridge .25 fits within. the annular portion 20 of the lower portion 11 and the lugs 26 on such shoulder or ridge pass into the cutouts 21 in the portion 20. `'llie'cap may then be twstedslightlygether clockwise or4 counter-clockwise until the lugs 26 pass into the under-cut arcuate channels adjoining cutouts 21 thereby locking the cap in closed position.

Again when the cap is moved from the position of Fig. 2 `to the position of Fig. 4, the reverse angular movement is carried out and then the cap is swung over either to the leiter to the right indiscriminately through an arc of about in which position annular shoulder or ridge 25 hangs upon annular portion 20, which is held between members 24 and 25, and the adjacent. the cap fits into-the contiguous Iextension 2.8 on recess 15 in the lower portion as is shown in Fig. 4. Due to the cutouts 29 in the extensions 28 and due to the sharp shoulders 17 bounding the recesses l5 the cap member is Securely and rela.

tively rigidly maintainedl in a locked condition Fig. 4a and abutting surfaces the stabilizing effect of the ly apparent from 3 2 and 33 enhance positioning of thek parts.

need

the container and' the springs always exert a force upon the cap urging it toward the lower porl tion 11.

As shown in Figs. 6 and construction above Vdescribed somewhat so as to enable the use of an elastic holding element such as aAsuitable rubber band 34 Yin place of the springs 31. -When this is done Iprovideon the cylindrical portion 23 of the cap the opposed sets of diametrically oppositely disposed hooks or lugs 35 in place of the lugs 30 on the milled head. I use a continuous elastic'band of suitable length The construction .and v 7, I may modify the n A:so z

relationship is more clearand strength which passes around under the l milled head'of the cap over one of the opposed sets of hooks or lugs 35,v down to and around the lugl or hook 18 on the lower portion 1 1 and then up parallel with the downwardly extending por.-

tion over the other of the opposed hooks35 and V around to the other side, which is provided with the same construction and arrangement as will be clearly apparent by a comparison of Figs. 6 and 7, I have thus provided a container cap which cannot beaccidentally displaced either in open. vor in closed position and which is characterized bya high .degree of flexibility of operation so as not to hamper to any appreciable'lextent -the convenient and rapid use of the container or tube.

- Other and further modifications and variations, whichwill occur to those skilled in this art .are intended to be included within the above description which is accordingly presented as illustrative rather'than limitative, the scope thereof being determinable by thesubjoined claims. I Amay, for example, make portions 11 and 12 o'f suitable non-metallic materials such as those well known for ordinary screw caps now in use. `I may moreover, apply the present inventionto other types or kinds of containers wherever the principles of the present invention find advantageous application. I am not, consequently, limited to collapsible tubes or containers which have been used for purposes of illustration and explanation.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container cap construction comprising a lower portion associated with the container and a cap-portion proper, said cap-portion proper being swingable in either direction between a' position opening said container and a position closing said container, said portions being provided with one set of interengaging means to releasably hold them in container-closing position and with an additional set of interengaging means to releasably hold them in container-opening position.

2. A container'cap construction comprising a lower portion associated with the container and a cap-portion proper, said cap-portion proper being swingable between a position opening said container and a position closing said container, said portions being provided with interengaging means to releasably hold them in container-closing position and with additional interengaging means to releasably hold them in containeropening position, said first interengaging means including lugs on said cap portion and undercut arcuate cutouts on said lower portion.

3. A container cap construction comprising a' lower portion associated with the container and a cap-portion proper, said cap-portion proper being swingable between a position opening said container and a position closing said container, said portions being provided with interengaging meansto releasably hold them in container-closopening position,

ing position and with additional interengaging means to releasably hold them in containersaid second interengaging means including projections on said cap portion and recesses in said lower portion.

4. A container cap construction comprising a lower portion associated with the container and a cap-portion proper, said cap-portion proper being swingable between a position opening said container and a position closing said container, said portions being provided with interengaging means to releasably hold them in container-closing position and with additional in rengaging means to releasably hold them in containeropening position, said iirst interengaging means including lugs on `said cap portion and undercut arcuate cutouts on said lower portion, said second interengaging means including projections on said cap portion and recesses in said lower portion, and resilient means always urging said cap portion toward said lower portion regardless of the relative positions of the two.

5. A container cap construction comprising a lower portion associated with the container and a cap portion proper, each of said portions being formed with a plurality of sets of interengaging means so constructed and arranged that the said portions are releasably securable to each other in container-openingv position and containerclosing position, saidI cap portion being always under the influence of means urging it toward said lower portion. l 4

6. In a structure of the class described, a container, a portion associated with the discharge end thereof, said portion comprising a collar'portion, provided with diametrically opposite recesses, lugs on said collar portion diametrically disposed intermediate said recesses, an upwardly flaring portion superjacent said collar portion f and terminating inl an annular portion, which is provided on its upper surface with diametrically opposite channels, and a discharge orice supercylindrical portion, cam-like projections diametrically oppositely disposed on said central cylindrical portion at the upper end thereof, an annular shoulder of rectangular cross-section subjacent said central cylindrical portion and provided with lugs diametrically oppositely disposed, and a milled head superjacent said central cylindrical portion which is provided with diametrically oppositely disposed pairs of extensions and lugs.

. 8. In a structure of the class described, a container, a portion associated with the discharge end thereof, said portion comprising a collar portion, provided with diametrically opposite recesses, lugs on said collar portion diametrically disposed intermediate said recesses, an upwardly iiaring portion superjacent Asaid collar portion and terminating in an annular portion, which is provided on its upper surface with diametrically opposite channels,4 and a discharge oriiice superjacent said upwardly iiaring portion and com-i municating with said container, a cap portion said cap portion comprising a central cylindrical portion, cam-like projections diametrically oppositelydisposed on said central cylindrical portion at the upper end thereof, an annular shoulder of rectangular cross-section subjacent saidcentral cylindrical potrion and provided with lugs' diametrically oppositely disposed, and a milled head superjacent said central cylindrical portion which is provided with diametrically oppositely H0 disposed pairs of extensions and lugsfa resilient member connected between the lugs on the collar and milled head portions aforesaid always urging said cap portion toward the portion associated with said container, the lugs on the anl nular portion of the cap being. cooperable with the channels in the annular portion of the portion associated with Athe discharge end of the tube to releasably maintain the cap in tube-closing position, and the extensions on said milled head being cooperable with the recesses on the collar portion to releasably maintainthe cap in tube-opening position. 4.

9. A container capconstruction comprising a lower portion associated with the container and a cap-portion proper, said lower and cap-portions each being provided with cooperating means for releasably locking them in container-closing position and with other and mechanically independent means for'releasably locking them in 130 container-opening position, said cap-portion being also swingable in either direction from container-closing position to containing-opening position and being always urged toward said lower portion regardless of its position.

10. A container cap construction comprising a stationary lowez` portion and a cap-portion proper which is swingable in either direction from container-closing position Ito containeropening position, each portion being provided 

